| 23. Linguistic Exegesis The verse opens with vayiggash {וַיִּגַּשׁ | way-yig-gaš} in the vav-consecutive form, marking Abraham’s deliberate movement toward the addressee. The proper name Avraham {אַבְרָהָם | ʾaḇ-rā-hām} precedes the qal imperfect vayomar {וַיֹּאמַר | way-yō-mar}, creating a compact narrative step: approach then speech. The interrogative particle ha’af {הַאַף | ha-ʾap} introduces an emphatic question, rendered as “truly” (formal) and “really” (dynamic) to convey incredulity. The imperfect tisper {תִּסְפֶּה | tis-peh} expresses a future-oriented query “will You sweep away.” The phrase tsaddiq im-rasha {צַדִּיק עִם־רָשָׁע | ṣad-dîq ʿim-rā-šāʿ} links two moral opposites with the preposition im {עִם | ʿim}, heightening ethical tension. English word order preserves the force of Abraham’s direct address to God. |